Ernest Fea's name barely shows in the news from the Great War, not even his death from a disease attributed (possibly incorrectly) to his military service.
From his army records I was able to find that, when he joined up, he was a commercial traveller for Gregg's and Co of Dunedin, where his father also worked.
He enlisted at the end of 1914 and served at Gallipoli with the Otago Mounted Rifles. He was admitted to an army hospital with jaundice in November, 1915, and spent a month in various other hospitals.
He followed the OMR to France where he was again admitted to hospital, this time with influenza.
Ernest was next in hospital in May, 1917, with a diagnosis of "insomnia" - and then two months later with the diagnosis of "insanity," and/or "nervous breakdown." In August of 1917 he was repatriated and, on his return to New Zealand, discharged as no longer fit for military service. His Medical Board verdict (5/8/1917) was that he was suffering from a complete disability caused by the stress of the campaign.
The following report was made by Major Frederick Gibson, military doctor on board the Hospital Ship Maheno, on the way home: "Pupils uneven, right slightly larger than left. Both react to light and accomodation, knee jerks not elicited. Facial muscles and fingers quite steady but Rombeys ??? present, slight slurring of speech.
"Mental condition childish, he is quite pleased with everything. He says his nerves are very good and that he thought of joining the flying corps. Offers to give a 'written guarantee' to another patient in the ward who is doubtful about reaching NZ."
On arrival at Dunedin, Ernest was admitted to the Seacliff mental hospital under conditions which caused questions to be asked as to the propriety of committing soldiers without due process. The Returned Services Association made strongly worded requests of the authorities who answered that formal committal was not done in order to prevent returend soldiers from suffering the "stigma" of mental illness.
Ernest died at the family home on Highgate in Roslyn, of "cerebro-spinal degeneration." The modern condition known as "cerebellar degeneration" sounds similar and the symptoms match the report from the HS Maheno. It is a complex disease whose cause can be genetic and can also be caused by external agents. A full description can be found here.
Ernest's parents must have hed a heartbreaking time in those years. A son gone at Gallipoli, Ernest returning to falter and die, and then their daughter Ethel. She died at the family home after a tram accident.
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| Northern Cemetery, Dunedin. |
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